The church seen today in Cashton, Wisconsin, is the fourth
one built on this location. The first settlers
arrived in 1856 from Cologne, Germany. Here
they found their “Promised Land,” and had to
work hard in order to survive in this new location. The
first years were filled with many hardships and sacrifices.
The most difficult, beyond food and goods of first necessity,
was the lack of a priest, and therefore the Sacraments.
The first two years, the pioneers had to go to La Crosse
to fulfill their Easter duties. Nevertheless, during the
year of 1858, the first church was built. It was a log
structure, but served well for the settlers to gather
and worship God. This was a great improvement from the
simple cross that existed in the cemetery field!
Bishop
John Martin Henni of Milwaukee held the first confirmations
in 1861. It was not until 1866 however, that St. Mary’s
community received its first resident pastor, Father S.
Florentine, who was also the pastor of St. Joseph’s Ridge,
living one month there and one month at St. Mary’s.
In
the year of 1869, Father Michael Heiss was the pastor,
and at this time the construction of a new church began.
It was a necessity to build a larger church because of
the arrival of new Catholic families in the area. From
the ten families coming in 1858, just a short eleven years
later, the number had reached 100 families in 1869. The
logs of the original church were reused to build a convent.
A great blessing
from God came during the year of 1873, for the enrichment
and growth of the Catholic faith in the area with the
arrival of the “Sisters of Perpetual Adoration,”
led by Sisters Seraphim and Adolphine.
Beginning
with the year of 1879 a new and inspirational time for
St. Mary’s took place, with the arrival of one
of the most remarkable pastors, Father Willibald Hackner.
Father Hackner came from Germany as well, and after a
time in La Crosse he came to St. Mary’s Ridge. His description
of American life in the letters he sent home was so enthusiastic,
that his family came to America, and among them Egid,
his younger brother, Egid was an artist and opened an
altar factory in La Crosse. Naturally, Egid dedicated
his first work for his brother, Father Hackner. This is
why the Church of St. Mary’s Ridge has the exquisite Neo-Gothic
altar, which lends its splendor and beauty to enhance
the sacredness of the Latin Mass.
In 1882,
Father Hackner received a new assignment and had to leave
St. Mary’s. In his place many pastors were given charge
of St. Mary’s, including Fathers Wicker, Grosse, Geyer,
Laurer, Baschke, Hauch, and Mayer. An interesting connection
should be noted; Father John Hauck was pastor of St. Mary’s
in Wausau before being appointed at the Ridge. Through
Divine Providence, Father John Hauck was a precursor of
the Institute of Christ the King, who today, has charge
of the two parishes.
Father
Hackner returned in 1895 to St. Mary’s Ridge. At this
time, there were 120 families, and 106 children at the
school. Father Hackner, during his second residency actually
built the church, which was dedicated on November 24,
1897. It became necessary for Father Hackner to leave
St. Mary’s Ridge in 1903 due to health reasons. 
From
1904 to 1920, another pastor who left a decisive mark
in the history of St. Mary’s was Father John Kaiser. Many
improvements were made during this time. Fr. Kaiser supervised
the frescoing of the church, and he acquired the two paintings
we see in the sanctuary representing the bloody and unbloody
sacrifice of the Mass. An organ was added, the school
was rebuilt, and the convent, which had burnt down, again
was rebuilt.
This
convent is actually the rectory of the Immaculate Conception,
where the Institute of Christ the King serves you. For
the Jubilee Celebration, the author of the booklet wrote
about the convent; “May God bless and protect
it, that much good may be accomplished there.” The
records give testimony of 140 families and 120 children
at school.
From 1920 to
our present time, many pastors succeeded in the charge
of “The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St.
Mary’s Ridge.” The names recorded are Fr. John
Thill, (March 1920–November 1927), Rev. P. J. Zaun, MSC
(1927), Rev. Augustin Frisch, (March 1928–1929), Fr. J.
H. Flad, (1934–1936). F. U. Baer, (1936–1938), F. La Verne
Timmerman, (1938–1949), Fr. S. Frye (1949–1953), Fr. Zulik,
(1953–1955), Fr. Bauman (1955-?). The New Rectory was
built in 1958, and two years later it was the turn of
the Convent which was remodeled inside and out. Fr. Bernard
Henry in the late 70s provide a new cross for the church
steeple. He was followed by Father Arnold Reuter (1976-1980)
and Father Wayne Kidd.
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